Apple Looks to Machine Learning to Improve Siri

As it pulls the plug on iPhone jacks, Apple is making what appears to be a concerted move into machine learning as it seeks to upgrade its next operating system to improve its Siri virtual assistant along with emerging machine learning applications expected to find their way into other Apple devices. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) watchers point to last month’s acquisition of machine learning startup Turi for about $200 million as another sign that the consumer electronics giants is laying the groundwork for a machine learning push. The Seattle-based startup’s machine learning platform focuses on rapid development of real-time services and applications based on embedded machine learning models. Observers note that the acquisition coincides with the release later this month of Apple’s mobile iOS 10, which is expected to include Siri upgrades…